When the coronavirus outbreak was new in 2020, it created panic worldwide. As the issue got bigger, fumigation and sanitization in public places began and the city started seeing people in masks. Very soon, a nation-wide lockdown was announced and people started panic buying and the nation saw an exodus of migrant/daily wage workers trying to make their way back home by foot and those who could not, sought refuge in temporary shelters or popularly called migrant camps created by the municipal corporation. The citizens of Bengaluru stepped up to the cause and helped poured in for the poor at these camps. While the longing to go home existed, they were safe and sound. The government started arranging allowing domestic travel and opening up places such as liquor stores, book stores and sports complexes which had minimal or no contact at all such as tennis, and later on allowed microbreweries to open and sell the existing stock until unlock 1 when the rest of the commercial businesses such as malls opened and dine-ins were allowed to only serve food, no liquor. Educational institutions and all other commercial establishments were slowly opening up.
A resident doctor monitors the blood pressure of a child at the centre. As many children are testing positive, and many are helpless, a Covid 19 Care Centre and Quarantine centres have been set-up to help them
While the country saw an exodus of migrant workers finding their way back home, temporary camps were built to provide shelter for those waiting to find a mode of transportation. Citizens stepped up to the cause by providing food, clothing and other basic amenities. These camps had no electricity and in the peak of summer, a mother comforts her sleeping child by using a cardboard to fan him while waiting for their train back home to Uttar Pradesh.
While the country saw an exodus of migrant workers finding their way back home, temporary camps were built to provide shelter for those waiting to find a mode of transportation. The roof at a temporary shelter created for migrant workers collapsed one night due to heavy rains and migrant workers were moved to another shelter. Help started pouring in from citizens of Bengaluru. They provided food, water and clothing. A volunteer who made masks for them helped children by teaching them how to put them on.
While a lockdown was called in 2020 as an emergency to contain the spread of COVID-19, migrant workers and daily wage earners were affected the most.Ayaaz Basha(45) a daily wage earner who worked t a coffee plantation in Sakleshpur, a town in Hassan district in Karnataka was fired. He started his journey back home on foot with a hope to reunite with his family who he hadn't connected with for over six months. He had been walking for almost a week and reached Bangalore and was going in circles like a lost lamb unable to find his way to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh. On day three he had a seizure on Kasturba road at a bus stand and good samaritans who found him gave him food and water. He had no documents and with folded hands he begged for help to reunite with his family as he had no idea how to find transportation. These men found him a temporary accommodation and took him there and helped him get home.
While the country saw an exodus of migrant workers finding their way back home, temporary camps were built to provide shelter for those waiting to find a mode of transportation. Citizens stepped up to the cause by providing food, clothing and other basic amenities.
While the country saw an exodus of migrant workers finding their way back home, temporary camps were built to provide shelter for those waiting to find a mode of transportation. Help started pouring in at thee shelters from citizens of Bengaluru. They provided food, water and clothing. Women were called separately and their sanitary issues were addressed by the volunteers who distributed sanitary napkins.
While a lockdown was called in 2020 as an emergency to contain the spread of COVID-19, migrant workers and daily wage earners were affected the most. Kempamma (65) and her son Hanumantha (42) who live near the Rama temple in Guttepalya haved have no grocery at home and collect lentils that someone accidently dropped on the road. She said "2 kilos is a lot for me and this is a pleasant surprise".
While a lockdown was called in 2020 as an emergency to contain the spread of COVID-19, migrant workers and daily wage earners were affected the most. The country saw an exodus of migrant workers finding their way back home. Migrant workers from Bihar queue up outside Cantonment railways station eager to board the train.
Humanity triumphs over Coronavirus. The Sikh community in Bangalore sends out freshly cooked food in packets for the needy during India's lockdown
A boy watches a movie on his phone at the centre. As many children are testing positive, and many are helpless, a Covid-19 Care Centre and Quarantine centres have been set-up to help them
A child plays with building blocks at Gasper Retreat managed by Father Edward. As many children are testing positive, and many are helpless, a Covid 19 Care Centre and Quarantine centres have been set-up to help them.
A girl takes a sip of water before her afternoon nap at the centre. The quarantine center for children hosts kids shifted from the covid 19 care centre who tested positive and are monitored for a few weeks before being sent home.
Children enjoy a movie at Gasper Retreat Centre managed by Father Edward. As many children are testing positive, and many are helpless, a Covid 19 Care Centre and Quarantine centres have been set-up to help them.
As state borders slowly started opening up in 2020, everyone crossing borders needed to be home quarantined for a period of 15 days. Health workers went about ensuring to stamp everyone coming into the state.
While the need for ambulance drivers has been high and the transportation and tourism industry has been hit hard, a lot of the drivers have decided to step in and fill the gap. While they toiled 24*7 ferrying people to and from hospitals, the citizens of Bengaluru attached a stigma ostracising them due to the fear of the virus. For the entire story - http://cms.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/jul/11/wheels-of-worry-2168069.html
People arrived in cars and bikes for a mass drive-in vaccination drive of Covaxin which was held at Forum Value Mall for people aged 18 and above in Bengaluru on Saturday. Out of the 1,000 people who got vaccinated today, 700 registrations were made in advance and 300 people were walk-ins.
People arrived in cars and bikes for a mass drive-in vaccination drive of Covaxin which was held at Forum Value Mall for people aged 18 and above in Bengaluru on Saturday. Out of the 1,000 people who got vaccinated today, 700 registrations were made in advance and 300 people were walk-ins.
People arrived in cars and bikes for a mass drive-in vaccination drive of Covaxin which was held at Forum Value Mall for people aged 18 and above in Bengaluru on Saturday. Out of the 1,000 people who got vaccinated today, 700 registrations were made in advance and 300 people were walk-ins.
People arrived in cars and bikes for a mass drive-in vaccination drive of Covaxin which was held at Forum Value Mall for people aged 18 and above in Bengaluru on Saturday. Out of the 1,000 people who got vaccinated today, 700 registrations were made in advance and 300 people were walk-ins.
People arrived in cars and bikes for a mass drive-in vaccination drive of Covaxin which was held at Forum Value Mall for people aged 18 and above in Bengaluru on Saturday. Out of the 1,000 people who got vaccinated today, 700 registrations were made in advance and 300 people were walk-ins.
As Covid-19 cases increased and clusters started forming, areas was cordoned off as containment zones. A cooking gas delivery agency hands over a new cylinder across the barricades to a resident while carrying back the empty one
When the lockdown was first announced in March 2020, people start panic buying and hoarding essentials creating a shortage. Departmental stores later started streamlining the process for safety and monitored each customer's purchases at the billing counter as there was a cap on the purchase of each product.
The entire country went into a lockdown in 2020 and when the government slowly opened the restrictions and airports started functioning there was a high demand which saw long queues. People arrived way before their scheduled time of departure and slept outside the terminal waiting for their turn.
The entire country went into a lockdown in 2020 and when the government slowly opened the restrictions and airports started functioning there was a high demand which saw long queues. It was mandatory for travellers to mask up, wear gloves and a face shield. To avoid contact, everything digitised and the airport staff were protected by a glass door.
K.S.R.T.C buses are regularly sanitised with Dettol, washed thoroughly and fumigated on the inside at bus depots in Bangalore
The education sector faced a lot of challenges as all schools and colleges had to switch to the online mode making it difficult for children in class 10 and 12 as it's a turning point in their lives. Schools slowly started opening up for offline classes following all the Covid-19 protocols. A student writes down all the formulae on the board as a part of the recap process.
The education sector faced a lot of challenges as all schools and colleges had to switch to the online mode making it difficult for children in class 10 and 12 as it's a turning point in their lives. Schools slowly started opening up for offline classes following all the Covid-19 protocols. Children not only had to maintain physical distance, wear masks and sanitise their hands but also needed to be monitored for temperature before being let into their classes.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up for retailers, bookworms queued up at book stores to stock up for the pandemic. A girl browses through a book store.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up metro services for intra-city transport opens up with 50% capacity. A girl plugs her years during her commute to college.
As the state of Karnataka has been seeing a spike in COVID-19 numbers, the government issued new rules on the number of people who can attend a gathering. Every guest must wear a face mask and the food caterers who test negative have to wear face masks and gloves at all times.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up life continues in masks and gloves. A customer at a liquor store makes his purchase from a large collection.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up, life continues in masks and gloves. An employee at a bar serves beer with all the necessary precautions.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up life continues in masks and gloves. Salons started looking like hospitals as everyone had a PPE kit, mask and gloves and every customer was expected to mask up as well.
As the lockdown restrictions slowly eased up, life continues in masks and gloves. Theatres opened up with 50% capacity and a make up artist is seen at work before the inaugural show.
Pride March is always held on the last Sunday of November in India. However, due to the pandemic, pride march 2020 was pushed to December and the vibe was vibrant as always. Organisers ensured that everyone followed the COVID-19 norms while they walked from Freedom Park to Samsa Bhavan.
Pride March is always held on the last Sunday of November in India. However, due to the pandemic, pride march 2020 was pushed to December and the vibe was vibrant as always. Organisers ensured that everyone followed the COVID-19 norms while they walked from Freedom Park to Samsa Bhavan.
People turn to faith during the pandemic. During the initial phase when lockdown restrictions were loosening up, the doors of religious places were still shut but devotees were allowed to attend prayer services through windows and doors.
People turn to faith during the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions loosened up further, places of worship were allowed to operate at 50% capacity following all the other COVID-19 protocols. A priest walks through the aisle distributing communion after service to avoid people gathering in a group.
People turn to faith during the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions loosened up further, places of worship were allowed to operate at 50% capacity following all the other COVID-19 protocols.
People turn to faith during the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions loosened up further, places of worship were allowed to operate at 50% capacity following all the other COVID-19 protocols. A boy studying at the church stands with his arms folded during a prayer service.
People turn to faith during the pandemic. As lockdown restrictions loosened up further, places of worship were allowed to operate at 50% capacity following all the other COVID-19 protocols. A priest gets ready to address a prayer service
Artists were hit very badly as they depend on the sales of the festive season to make money for the entire year and starting April 2020 they have seen a steep decline in orders. An artist is seen finishing up his orders of goddess Durga before the season commences.
Artists were hit very badly as they depend on the sales of the festive season to make money for the entire year and starting April 2020 they have seen a steep decline in orders. The potters say that they have huge loans to pay up as they started procuring raw materials in 2019 to prepare for the festival in 2020. 40 families depend on this season for their annual income and are low left wondering how to fend for themselves. They have been surviving on the ration provided by good Samaritans of the city. An artist is seen finishing up her orders of lord Ganesha before the season commences as they have finished the claywork
As lockdown restrictions are relaxed in India, street markets are slowly coming back with heaps of works created by many artists were displayed on Church Street, on sale on a “take what you love and pay what you like,†basis.
As lockdown restrictions are relaxed in India, street markets are slowly coming back with heaps of works created by many artists were displayed on Church Street, on sale on a “take what you love and pay what you like,†basis.
As the country was in for a long lockdown in 2020 mental illness has been on the rise. Zaira Wadood a marketing professional and fitness enthusiast uses her terrace to exercise and keep herself not only physically fit but mentally as well.
Meghana Sastry
Meghana Sastry is a female photojournalist from Bangalore with a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication and a passion to unearth stories. She is a Daily Photojournalist who is known for her tenacity and photo stories coupled with writing.